hagan714

ON THE BUBBLE


Thursday, August 30, 2007 By Jimmy Smith

The Saints must make 22 cuts by Saturday to reach the league limit of 53 players. Here's a look at 22 players who are on the bubble tonight against the Dolphins:
-- WR Tramain Hall. A candidate for the practice squad because of return skills, Hall won't be able to make the roster because of receiver numbers.
-- RB Pierre Thomas. Another candidate for the practice squad, his performance against Chiefs scrubs last week was impressive, but Saints will keep Antonio Pittman ahead of him.
-- CB David Jones. Another practice-squad hopeful, Jones has the athletic ability you're looking for in a corner, but needs more seasoning.
-- DT Rodney Leisle. Has been slowed by his recovery from late offseason shoulder surgery and overshadowed by Antwan Lake.
-- DT McKinley Boykin. There's a numbers crunch at the position, although Boykin has played well enough to distinguish himself.
-- DE Anton Palepoi. A veteran who has bounced back from some early camp struggles to stick around this long.
-- FB Kevin Dudley. The Saints don't have a need for more than one fullback (Mike Karney will start) because tight ends can play the position in this offense.
-- T Rob Petitti. Was on last season's roster, but inactive for all but one game. He'll be pushed out by younger, more promising players.
-- DE Willie Evans. Hasn't shown enough to be considered a candidate despite fact that Rob Ninkovich has missed all of the exhibition season with injury.
-- G Dave Yovanovits. Too many good players in front of him as starters, and the Saints will keep more promising youngster Andy Alleman.
-- DT Brandon Villareal. Touch-and-go for him. He has versatility (also a long snapper), but likely will get caught in numbers crunch.
-- G Tim Duckworth. Brought in as a camp body, Duckworth hasn't shown enough to stick on the final roster.
-- G/T Ben Archibald. Was on the practice squad last season and added the versatility of a second position, but Saints might want to keep rookies Alleman and Jermon Bushrod.
-- TE Ronnie Ghent. The Saints have five tight ends on the roster. They'll likely keep three. Ghent won't be one of them.
-- TE John Owens. See above.
-- CB Fred Thomas. Thomas has done all he could to make the roster, but it won't be enough. Saints could do him a favor with early release so he could find another team.
-- S Curry Burns. Saints won't make mistake of cutting veteran Jay Bellamy this time, and will keep just four safeties.
-- S Chris Reis. See above. Reis could be a practice-squad candidate because he has shown some ability this summer.
-- DE Scott Scharff. Was around last season on practice squad, tore up his knee, cast away, and brought back this summer when ranks were thin. No room on the roster.
-- LB Alfred Fincher. A valuable special teams player, there are just too many good linebackers on the roster.
-- C Brian Ferentz. A camp body when he joined the club, Ferentz is no longer needed now that Jeff Faine is back at work.
-- WR Derrick Doyle. Another player caught up in numbers at the position.
-- Compiled by Jimmy Smith

NOLA.com: Everything New Orleans

nice out line. I am leaning towards a few surprise moves to keep the team moving in the younger direction. We can risk it more than ever before. We are talking depth not starters.

"We may have lost the game, but you'll be hurting tomorrow." Doug Atkins

saintsfan1976

I think that after tonight P Thomas is officially OFF the Budweiser Hotseat!!

saintsrule

Some of those players listed did great in tonights game.